Chapter 268: Beauty and Painting
Qin Mu left Saintly Sacred Mountain and returned to the Grand Academy. Gu Linuan immediately hurried over and laid out a banquet to welcome him back.
Qin Mu’s eyes widened, a mix of amusement and exasperation on his face. He chuckled and said, “Lord Gu, there’s no need for this!”
Gu Linuan smiled and replied, “As fellow cultivators of the demonic path, we ought to support one another. Chief Qin, is the Young Guardian Sword serving you well?”
“It serves well. I’m not returning it.”
Qin Mu explained, “It’s the rule of the Great Ruins…”
“I know!”
Gu Linuan burst into hearty laughter. “I lived in the Great Ruins for two hundred years. I understand the rules there—anything you trick or steal with your own skill is never returned! How distant you’re being! See? You’re being distant again! Hahaha! I lived in the Great Ruins for two hundred years; it’s half my homeland. We’re practically fellow villagers! Chief Qin, since you’ve returned from my homeland, the least I can do is treat you to a meal to ease my homesickness.”
Qin Mu was dumbfounded. He sighed and said, “Lord Gu, your realm of understanding is lofty. I, your junior, am in awe.”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! Chief Qin is the true young prodigy, a hero born of talent.”
After a round of mutual flattery, Gu Linuan remarked with emotion, “Back in the Great Ruins, the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were no ordinary talent. You were destined to soar high. I just didn’t expect it to come so soon. Chief Qin… Ah, calling you ‘Chief’ is too formal, isn’t it? Chief, after this upheaval, there are many vacancies among the first- and second-rank officials in the court. Could you help me maneuver for a position?”
Qin Mu was caught between laughter and tears. “Lord Gu, I’m only a fifth-rank minor official…”
“If you don’t mind the formality, you can call me Linuan.”
Qin Mu steadied himself and said, “I’m merely a fifth-rank Palace Attendant without real power. How could I possibly meddle in the promotions of first- and second-rank high officials? And to be honest, the sword that killed the crown prince was this very Young Guardian Sword I tricked from you, Lord Gu. The emperor still harbors some resentment toward me, and he has reservations about my Heavenly Saint Cult. If I were to recommend your promotion to the emperor, it would only harm you.”
Gu Linuan chuckled. “That makes sense. Wise insight, Chief. I toast to you.”
He was a clear-headed man. The purpose of inviting Qin Mu to this banquet wasn’t to have Qin Mu petition the emperor for his promotion, but to establish a connection with Qin Mu and resolve past grievances.
Whether or not Qin Mu was the emperor’s favored subject, he had to forge this link.
The Demon Cult Chief of the Heavenly Demon Cult, a figure on par with the Tathagata and the Dao Lord—building a good relationship with Qin Mu was like building one with the Tathagata and the Dao Lord. And all it took was a banquet. It was a surefire, no-loss deal.
After the feast, Gu Linuan personally escorted Qin Mu back to the Scholar’s Residence. On the way, Qin Mu noticed some foreigners in the Grand Academy and felt puzzled.
“After this turmoil, the new crown prince ordered the annulment of the treaties signed by the rebels and the recovery of the lands. Some foreign states were alarmed and sent pacification envoys to study Yan’gang culture.”
Gu Linuan, seeing his confusion, explained, “The crown prince granted permission for foreigners to study in Yan’gang. Some noble youths from abroad are now studying at the Grand Academy.”
Qin Mu nodded. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar face and paused, smiling at the youth. “Ban Gongcuo!”
The youth was a barbarian from the grasslands. He turned to look at Qin Mu, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He was surrounded by many foreign attendants, including two great shamans from the Loulan Golden Palace.
Ban Gongcuo whispered something to those nearby. One of the great shamans quickly murmured a reply. Ban Gongcuo seemed to understand and returned Qin Mu’s greeting with a lukewarm tone. “So it’s the Heavenly Demon Cult Chief. Do you have business with me?”
Qin Mu was taken aback again. He shook his head. “No, it’s nothing.”
Ban Gongcuo walked away with his group.
Qin Mu frowned slightly. Gu Linuan noticed and said, “Chief, do you know this Ban Gongcuo?”
“He’s the youngest son of the Great Khan of the Man-Di Kingdom. I once saw him practicing boxing at the border. His fist technique had a unique bearing, suggesting a special physique.”
Qin Mu gazed at Ban Gongcuo’s retreating figure, pondering. “He once challenged Sacrificial Overseer Bashan, vowing to defeat him one day. That left a deep impression on me. But why does he act as if he’s seeing me for the first time…”
Gu Linuan chuckled. “Youthful whims. He’s probably forgotten.”
Qin Mu returned to the Scholar’s Residence. The Dragon Qilin was lying outside. Entering the room, Qin Mu felt a chill and a sense of emptiness, finding it hard to get used to.
“If Ling’er were here, it would be better,” he mused.
If Fox Ling’er were here, she would have tidied the room perfectly, with everything in order and comfortable.
Suddenly, the Dragon Qilin’s muffled voice came from outside. “Miss, who are you looking for?”
“Is your Chief Qin at home?” A very pleasant voice came from outside.
“He is.”
“I’m going in.”
“Mm.”
Qin Mu quickly stepped out of the room. Ling Yuxiu pushed the door open and entered. The girl was lively and lovely, with rosy lips and white teeth. She wore a red blouse, though not entirely red—the collar and lapels were crimson. As she stepped into the courtyard, a wave of youthful vitality rushed toward Qin Mu, making his heart race.
“Cowherd!”
The girl’s eyes sparkled as she walked over with a smile. “That big dog at your door is very easy to talk to!”
“When New Year’s comes, he’ll end up on the dinner table! Keeping him is useless—he can’t even guard the door!” Qin Mu said fiercely.
The Dragon Qilin’s voice drifted in from outside the courtyard. “Chief, I heard that.”
“Good! I meant for you to hear it! All you do is eat and sleep every day!”
Qin Mu carefully studied the princess. She had grown even more radiant, though her face still held a hint of childish innocence. But her figure was still taller than Qin Mu’s—she was a grown young woman now. Her spring garments could barely contain her graceful charm, as if a bouquet of flowers were about to burst from the delicate fabric, making it hard to look away.
Recently, Qin Mu had started to grow taller, shooting up like wild grass in the wilderness come spring.
Thinking back to when they first met, this princess had been a wild tomboy in men’s clothing, carefree and unrestrained.
Ling Yuxiu walked over to the yellow pear tree in the courtyard. The tree was sprouting buds, but the pear blossoms were about to bloom first, with tiny pistils peeking out from tender petals.
Ling Yuxiu extended her slender hand to pick a flower, smiling. “You have such refined tastes, planting a yellow pear tree on Jade Mountain. When the blossoms open, I must come to admire them…”
“Don’t move!”
Qin Mu’s eyes lit up. “Hold that pose. Wait for me!”
He hurriedly took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, mixed the colors, and began to paint. Ling Yuxiu grew a bit anxious. “Are you done yet? My hand is getting sore.”
“Almost done.”
Qin Mu was about to finish the painting, but he paused, first taking out his seal and stamping it onto the painting. Then he picked up the brush to add the final stroke. “Done,” he said with a smile.
Ling Yuxiu came over to look at the painting. She saw herself depicted with a shy expression, as if the faint blush rising from her heart had been captured by Qin Mu.
“It looks just like me.”
Ling Yuxiu praised him, then asked curiously, “Why did you stamp the seal before adding the last stroke?”
Qin Mu explained, “My painting skill is too good. If I had painted the last stroke first, you would have stepped out of the painting and run away. This seal is also called a ‘print.’ Look at the pattern on it—it’s not my name, but a sealing rune.”
Ling Yuxiu leaned in to examine the seal. The two of them drew close. Qin Mu’s gaze shifted to the girl’s face. Her skin was fair with a faint, warm blush, and her eyes sparkled. When she turned sideways to study the seal seriously, her fair, slender neck was very alluring. Her earnest attitude made his heart beat faster.
“It really is a sealing rune!”
Ling Yuxiu was amazed and asked curiously, “If I wipe off this seal, will the me in the painting really step out?”
Qin Mu nodded. “I used the Soul-Infusion Method—a spark of spiritual insight to imbue the soul. But I’ve only succeeded once. I don’t know if it will work this time. Still, it’s best to keep it sealed with the print, so you don’t run away.”
Ling Yuxiu shot him a shy glance and quickly rolled up the painting. “This painting is mine! Don’t you dare take it! Oh, I almost forgot the real matter. Father summoned you to the palace to diagnose his injuries. I ran into the eunuch delivering the decree and snatched the job.”
Qin Mu straightened his clothes. “Will you accompany me?”
“Sure! We haven’t seen each other in a while. I have some things to say to you too.”
The boy and girl walked out of the room. The Dragon Qilin looked up and said, “Chief, I’ll guard the door. I won’t let anyone in.”
“Got it.”
Qin Mu said, “Do a good job, and you won’t end up on the table at New Year’s. And practice more. Look at the Green Ox—he’s all muscle. How can you ever beat him?”
The two walked out of the Scholar’s Residence. Along the way, many scholars greeted them with smiles, but their eyes held fear. They had heard that Qin Mu was the Demon Cult Chief of the Heavenly Demon Cult, a ruthless fellow who had beheaded Ling Yuxia right in front of the emperor—truly a heinous villain.
Outside the Scholar’s Residence, Sacrificial Overseer Bashan strode over, followed by two scholars: Wei Yong and Yue Qinghong. Both had made significant progress in their cultivation, clearly having trained under Bashan for a while and reaped many benefits.
Behind them was a massive, sturdy green ox walking on two legs, its body covered in bulging muscles, snorting smoke and fire from its nostrils, looking ferocious, with a peony flower dangling from its mouth.
Bashan stopped and chuckled. “Chief Qin, are you two lovebirds eloping?”
“Not at all!”
Ling Yuxiu puffed up her cheeks. “Don’t talk nonsense, Teacher Bashan! Father summoned him to the palace!”
Bashan laughed heartily and said to Qin Mu, “I just ran into that Ban Gongcuo kid from the Man-Di Kingdom. He’s become very strange. Though he recognized me, he’s not the same Ban Gongcuo as before.”
Qin Mu nodded. “I felt the same way. Ban Gongcuo no longer recognizes me, as if he’s been replaced.”
“His skills are formidable—no less than yours,” Bashan said.
Qin Mu blinked, puzzled. “No less than mine? I’m very strong.”
Bashan shot him a glare. “He’s about to break through the Six Harmonies Divine Treasury, and I sense a terrifying power lurking inside him. You might not be able to beat him! Has this barbarian had some other stroke of fortune? It doesn’t seem like good fortune—more like a ghost possessing him… Go see the emperor first. I’ll find you later.”
Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu arrived at the palace. They saw the emperor and the Yan’gang National Teacher both present, along with an ugly man covered in pimples, who was diagnosing their injuries.
Qin Mu entered. Yanfeng Emperor looked up and smiled. “The Palace Attendant has arrived.”
The pimpled man turned to look at Qin Mu, his mouth splitting open like a giant toad that had become a spirit, his smile like a cry. “Junior brother, is the master well?”
Qin Mu stopped and raised a hand to shield Ling Yuxiu. “Little Poison King?”